There is a big difference between a camp and a showcase. Camps focus on skill and player development. Showcases focus on evaluation. I want to be clear that I am not talking about camps. I believe that camps add value if the coaches running the camp have three things: 1) Integrity, 2) Experience, and 3) Passion. All three of those qualities must be present on camp day. Take away one of the three and you have yourself a bad camp. Showcases are different than camps. I’m not convinced showcases provide any value for tough players.
Yes, there have been tough players that have been seen at showcases who end up with an opportunity to play at the next level. Those players, though, would have been offered an opportunity regardless. Tough players get to the next level because of who they are and how they play. Not because of a number they got in exchange for hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.
[shareable width=”75%”]I believe that camps add value if the coaches running the camp have three things: 1) Integrity, 2) Experience, and 3) Passion. All three of those qualities must be present on camp day. Take away one of the three and you have yourself a bad camp.[/shareable]Here are 3 reasons tough players don’t need showcases to achieve their dreams:
1. Value isn’t measured in one performance. Anyone who has ever played sports understands that you are going to have off days. College coaches especially understand this and build their recruiting processes accordingly. They focus on understanding what type of a person is behind the talent. That work is not completed in a day, though, just like your value isn’t measured in one performance.
2. Everyone is doing it. The toughest players don’t follow the crowd. They work hard every day on the practice field, in the weight room and in the classroom. They know that if they do, good things will happen. Stand out by focusing on the little things everyday, rather than trying to stand out by doing a big thing one day.
3. They don’t build relationships. Tough players understand that playing at the college level is an investment. Not only for the player, but for the coach. When a college coach recruits you, trust that he will work hard to get to know who you are and how you act in order to understand how you will fit in. Getting an opportunity to play at the next level requires earning trust and building a strong relationship. Relationships don’t happen in a day.
If you have the dream of playing at the next level, understand there are no shortcuts that will help you get there. Just like anything worth pursuing it’s going to take hard work and you’ll experience failure and success along the way. Tough players are not born, they are built. Keep going after your dream.
To learn more about how to become a tough player, click here.
